Oil ob



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAS. R. NICHOLS, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

OIL OR FLUID CAN.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,086, dated September 20, 1853.

To all LU/om t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES R. NioHoLs, ofHaverhill, in the county of EsseX, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Decanting Vessels orLamp-Feeders for Holding Volatile and Combustible Compounds, which isdescribed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsof the same, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a view of the ordinary decanting vessel with my improvementaffixed to the same. Fig. 2, is a view of my improvement with a sectionof the metallic tube or covering removed showing the arrangement of thevalve spring, Sac., contained within it.

A, is the body of the can; B, the decanting orifice and tube.

C, is the met-allie tube containing the arrangement of helical spring,with cork valve for continuing the decanting orifice closed, when thevessel is not in use.

D, is the replenishing tube, the orifice of which is closed by a screw.

E, is the vent orifice closed by a metallic covering acted upon by themovement of the helical spring, being open and closed simultaneouslywith the cork valve, G.

F, is a ring of met-al for the insertion of the thumb or finger inopening the valve Gr.

Gr, is a valve of cork or other substance pressing the orifice H, andclosing it securely.

I, is the orifice opening up beneath the cork valve, leading into thecan.

J, is the helical spring pressing against the cork valve.

K, is the metallic rod to which the spring and cork valve are attached,also the metallic ring at F, for the insertion of the thumb or finger inusing the can.

It is well known that many serious accidents have occurred in the use ofthe ordinary lamp feeder or decanting vessel for holding highlycombustible and volatile ingredients from the accidental falling of thecan or vessel, while in the act of replenishing lamps, or from theaccidental upsetting of the same, thus spilling the fluid, and fillingthe room with highly explosive vapor.

The design and utility of my improvement is to remove these dangers bythe use of the self acting valves, which keep all the orifices closedwhen the vessel is not in use.

It will be seen that should the fluid or vapor of the uid ignite ateither of the orifices of the ordinary can while filling a lamp, andfrom alarm, the holder should allow the vessel to fall, the highlycombustib-le fluid in a state of ignition would be thrown upon theclothing and around the apartment, and thus in an eminent degreejeopardize human life. lith my improvement such sad results areimpossible, inasmuch as the orifices of the vessel are closed as soon asthe hold is relinquished by the person using the same, and should itfall no fluid can escape and no injury can result. It will also be seenthat however careless servants and others may be, they cannot leave thevessel exposed to danger or loss by evaporation, as the valves are bytheir own action continued closed. It is to be understood that wiregauze protection against explosion of the vapors within is to be used inthis decanting vessel.

I do not claim as my invention the helical spring and cork valve asapplied to other purposes than that of a decanting vessel or lampfeeder, but-- What I do claim as my invention or improvement upon theordinary decanting vessel, is

The application to the same, of a spring valve, or valves, easily andconveniently opened by the thumb or finger while replenishing lamps, ordecanting therefrom, whether said spring and valves be made and arrangedin the manner as herein described or other mode substantially the sameby which similar results shall be produced.

J AMES R. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

RICHARD C. Hown, CHARLES B. EMERSON.

